Drum filling machine



May 28, 1957 A. s. GUERARD, JR., ETAL 2,793,659

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DRUM FILLING MACHINE Filed Sept. 2. 1952 17 Sheets-Sheet 13 MJT May 28, 1957 A. s GUERARD, JR., E'r'nu.

DRUM FILLING MACHINE Filed Sept. 2. 1952 17 Sheets-Sheet 14 May 28, 1957 A. s. GUERARD, JR., Eru.

DRUM FILLING MACHINE 17 Sheets-Sheet 15 Filed Sept. 2, 1952 vMay 2s, 1957 Ns. GUERARD, JR., @TAL 2,793,659

DRUM FILLING MACHINE Filed Sept. 2, A1952 17 Sheets-Sheet 16 A. s. GUERARD, JR., Erm. 2,793,659

May 28, 1957 DRUM FILLING MACHINE 17 Sheets-Sheet 17 Fivled sept. 2. 1952 waff Muna/mm ay d A ,4f-former United States Patent O DRUM FILLING MACHINE Francisco, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Application September 2, 1952, Serial No. 307,554 21 Claims. (Cl. 141-481) This invention relates to apparatus for automatically filling drums, barrels and other vessels with liquid, more particularly for filling drums with lubricating oil, other hydrocarbon oils and liquids generally which are handled in large volume and are marketed in individual containers such as drums and barrels.

It is customary to ship and gasoline and kerosene in drums or barrels of 55 gallon capacity. For legal as well as business reasons it is necessary that each drum be filled with a predetermined quantity of liquid within fairly close tolerances.

Products of the character of lubricating oil, kerosene and gasoline are marketed in drums or barrels in large volume. From the standpoint of labor saving and to fill large orders on close schedules, it is desirable to conduct the drum or barrel filling operation automatically. Automatic means used for this purpose must be rapid in operation to justify any sizeable capital investment and it must be accurate to comply with the tolerance fatcor. Also, a machine of this character should not be overly complex and it should be capable of lengthy runs without shutdowns for servicing or repairs.

Heretofore only semi-automatic means have been available for this purpose. Such means leave a great deal to be desired from the standpoint of dependable automatic operation, speed of operation and satisfaction of the need for accurate filling.

It is an object of the proved automatic means like with liquid products.

lt is another object of the invention to provide an automatic drum filling means which is rapid in its operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a barrel or drum filling means which is rapid, automatic and accurate in its operation and which will fill receptacles such as drums and barrels with a predetermined quantity of liquid within close tolerances.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus and method for filling vessels with liquid which are automatic in character and which will automatically tare the empty vessels, then fill them with a predetermined net weight of liquid, and which, if desired, will fill vessels, without a taring operation, to a predetermined gross weight.

Another object of the invention is to provide automatic filling apparatus of the general character and for the general purpose described which is capable of lengthy runs without shutdowns for repairs and adjustment.

Yet another object is to provide barrel or drum filling apparatus and method which satisfy the conditions of automatic operation, speed and accuracy and which can be used in large oil refineries and other manufacturing establishments wherein large quantities of liquid product require packagingY in individual drums and barrels.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus whereby barrels, drums and like vessels with their bung holes in random position can be rapidly oriented to market lubricating oils,

present invention to provide imfor llng drums, barrels and the i?. locate their bung holes in a predetermined position, such apparatus being simple in its structure and operation and being effective to maintain each oriented vessel in proper position while it is transported to a filling station.

Another object of the invention is to provide filling apparatus which can be rapidly extended through the bung hole of and into an oriented drum, barrel or other vessel to fill the same with liquid, and which can be throttled to diminish the rate of flow of liquid near the end of the filling operation, then shut oir completely and withdrawn from the vessel.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus for automatically filling vessels, Such as drums and barrels, with a liquid, such apparatus being capable of automatically taring each vessel, then filling it with a predetermined net weight of liquid and terminating the filling operation when such predetermined net weight is registered on a scale.

Yet another object is to provide means for rapidly filling Vessels, such as drums having small bung holes, with liquid, e. g. for filling a fifty-five gallon drum in thirty seconds, without overflow of liquid due to foaming.

A further object is to provide automatic drum filling means capable of rapidly filling drums on a scale platform, whereby reaction of such platform to the flow of liquid is minimized.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the ensuing description and the appended claims.

General description In general our mode of operation comprises the following sequence of steps: Drums (this being a term used hereinafter to exemplify receptacles which can be filled by the apparatus and method of the present invention), each having a bung hole or orifice for entry of liquid, are delivered by any suitable means, e. g., by gravity rollers or by positively driven rollers, to a first or bung locating station. Gates are provided at the entry and exit of such station which are operated by a mechanism hereinafter described to confine each drum, in its turn, at the locating station, and to open and close at appropriately timed intervals to allow entry of a drum having its bung hole in a random position, and to allow exit of an oriented drum having its bung hole oriented or located in a predetermined positiony for registry with a filling mechanism at a second or filling station. The mechanism at the locating station also includes bung locating means operable to provide relative rotation between the drum and a bung locating member, and to terminate such relative rotation when a bung hole has been oriented.

The oriented drum is then moved forwardly to the above-mentioned second, or filling station where it is first tared, i. e., its empty weight is measured. During forward movement of the oriented drum, the locating mechanism is employed to maintain the drum in proper position. Then a filling mechanism at such filling station commences a cycle of operation wherein the drum is filled with liquid until a weighing mechanism records a predetermined net weight of liquid. A means is provided for terminating the flow of liquid at this point. Preferably the filling operation is carried out in two increments, the first' of which is carried out under full flow conditions i. e., at a rapid rate of fiow) and the second under throttled flow conditions (i. e., at a reduced rate of ow). Also, a means is employed to inhibit the tendency of the rapid ow of liquid from the filling mechanism, to create foam and to react against the weighing mechanism.

At the conclusion of the filling operation, by means of suitable. mechanism the filling mechanism is retracted and the filled drum is moved forwardly to clear the filling station to allow entry of the next empty, oriented drum.

The three basic operations-the drum orientingoperation, the `weighing operation and the tilling operationare preferably carried out simultaneously or in overlapping relationship. Thus, one drum may be lling with liquid while the next drum is undergoing relative rotation to orient or locate its bung hole.

One form of the invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a top plan View, with cer-tain parts broken away or shown in section, of substantially the complete apparatus or machine of the invention showing both the locating station and the weighing and lling station.

Figure 2, a section along the line 2-2 of Figure 1, is a vertical, staggered, longitudinal section through the machine of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a top plan view similar to that of Figure 1 but with certain parts omitted for clarity and Awith the apparatus illustrated at a different stage of operation.

Figure V4 is a view simila-rvto thatrof Figure 3 but showing the machine at a third stage of operation.

. Figure 5 is a detailed view, partly in side elevation and partly in vertical, longitudinal section, of the bung locating mechanism, which is shown in the same Vstage of operation as that shown in Figure 1. The scale of Figure 5 is, however, larger than that of Figure 1. Y

Figures 6 and 7 are detailed vertical views of the bung locating mechanism, taken along the lines 46-6 and 7-'7, respectively, of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a vertical sectionY taken along the line 8--8 of Figure 3 showing the bung locating mechanism at a dierent stage of operation from that shown in Figure 5.

Figure 9 is an inclined section taken along the line 9 9 of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a sectiontaken along the line 10-110 of Figure 2 but on a larger scale, and it shows the gate operating mechanism for the bung locating station.

Figure l1 is a vertical lsection taken along the line 11--11 of Figure 1 but on a larger scale, and it illustrates the driving means for the driven rollers employed to positively feed drums to the bung locating station.

Figure 12 is a view, partly in top plan and partly in horizontal section, of the weighing mechanism employed for taring empty drums and for weighing the liquid delivered thereto.

Figure 13 is a View in front elevation of the weighing mechanism of Figure 12, as seen from beneath Figure 12.

Figure 14 is a View generally similar to that yof Figure l2 but on a larger scale and showing the weighing mechanism at a different stage of operation.

Figure 15 is a view similarto that of Figure l2 but showing the yweighing mechanism at a third stage of operation.

Figure 16 is a fragmentary vertical section taken along the line 16-16 of Figure 12.

Figure 17 is a fragmentary view, partly infront elevation and partly in vertical section, generally similar to the View or Figure 13 but :showing the weighing mechanism ata different stage of operation.

FigurerlS is a vertical section taken along the line 18-18 of Figure ll, showing the drum tilling mechanism in end elevation.

Figure 19 is a view in side elevation of the drum filling mechanism, as seen from the right of Figure 18.

Figure 20 is a detailed, fragmentary view in side elevation of the midportion of the filling mechanism, which is shown at a diterent stage of operation from [that in Figure 19. y

Figure 21 is a fragmentary, vertical section taken through the lance portion of the iilling mechanism along the -line 2,1-21 of Figure 19. The lance in thisl instance is shown in Vfully open position.

Figure 22 is a continuation of Figure 21, showing the lower end of the lance.

Figure 22A is a fragmentary vertical, sectional view, on yan enlarged scale, of the lower end of the lance showing how the liquid jets from the lance impinge upon one another.

Figure 23 is a vertical, sectional view similar to that `of Figure 2l but showing the lance in partly -retracted or throttled -flow condition.

Figure 24 is a continuation of Figure 23, showing the lower end of the lance. Y

Figure 25 is a schematic drawing of a portion of the hydraulic and pneumatic control circuit of the machine illustrated in Figures 1 to 24.

Figure 26 is a continuation lof Figure 25, showing the i remainder of the hydraulic and pneumatic circuit and a portion of the electric control circuit.

Figure 27 is `a schematic drawing of the electric control circuit lof the machine illustrated in Figures 1 to 24.

The locating station Referring now to the drawings vand more particularly to Figure l, the apparatus or machine of the present invention is generally `designated as 10. It comprises a roller conveying system which is generally designated as y11 for transporting and supporting drums, three of which Iare shown and .are designated as A, B and C. The machine also comprises a bung locating station generally designated as `12 for locating or orienting drums to locate their bung holes 13 at a predetermined position which is illustrated by the bung hole of the drum B in Figure 1. The machine further comprises a weighing and lfilling station which is generally designated as 14 :and is referred to hereinafter as the tilling station. At the filling station 14 each empty drum is tared (i. e., its empty `weight is measured) and a predetermined quantity of oil or other liquid is delivered to the drum through its bung hole, the net weight thereof being measured by weighing apparatus generally designated as 15. The rilling is accomplished lby a filling mechanism 16 which is more clearly shown in Figure 2. As explained hereinafter, the apparatus 10 is equally adapted to a gross lling operation wherein drums or other vessels are iilled, each to a predetermined gross weight.

Rearwardly of the locating :station 12, i. e., to the right thereof as viewed in Figure 1, -there is provided a set of gravity rollers 20 which are shown in Figure 11 and are `suitably journaled in longitudinal `frame members 21 as are other rollers hereinafter described. The end roller 20a of the set 2i) is at a lower level, as illustrated, `for a purpose described hereinafter. Forwardly of the gravity rollers 2t), i. e., to the left as viewed in Figure 1l, there is provided a `set of positively driven rollers 22. These rollers are `also shown in Figures l and 2. As is most clearly shown in Figure l1, the rollers =22 are driven by an hydraulic drum intake motor 23 connected by a resilient coupling 24 to a gear reducing unit 25, a chain 26 'and cooperating sprockets 27, 2S and 29. Operation `of the motor 23, hence operation of the driven rollers 22, is carried out intermittently in the manner and for the purpose described hereinafter. The offset lof the end roller20a of the inclined gravity rollers 20 has this advantage: It allows a drum to advance yapproximately half its diameter before it drops to the level of the rollers 22. This `ensures a smooth transition `of the drum to the rollers 22.

As shown in Figure l, at the locating station 12, half rollers 35 are provided which are journaled on shafts 36 which are xed to frame members 21 and Zlb. The half rollers 35 are idlers, and the purpose of employing halt rollers is to permit those on one side of the longitudinal axis of the machine to rotate clockwise while those on the other side rotate counterclockwise. My this means no torque is created to resist rotation of a drum on the half rollers 35. The rollers forwardly of the half rollers 35, i. e., to the left thereof as viewed in Figure l, are full rollers which are idlers rollers 20.

As illustrated in Figure 2, one pair of the half rollers, shown at a and located on the diameter of the drum B which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the machine, is slightly raised or has a slightly greater diameter, e. g., a 1A; inch greater diameter, than the rollers 35 on either side, the reason for this being as follows:

As explained hereinafter, the drum B is rotated to 1ocate the bung hole 13 at a predetermined position. The lower rim or chime of a drum may have a tendency to dig in between adjacent rollers and to resist rotation. This is particularly so in the case of damaged drums. By supporting a drum on the raised or larger center rollers 35a slightly above the level of the adjacent rollers 35, this difficulty is obviated.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2 the locating station is provided at its rearward or entry end, i. e., at its righthand end as viewed in Figures 1 and 2, with a pair of entry or drum intake gates 38 each of which comprises a pair of upper and lower arms 39 which are fixed to a vertical shaft 40 which is journaled in vertical frame members 41. Each arm fans out at 42 at its outer end, and vertical rollers 43 are journaled in these end portions 42. As illustrated in Figure 1, and as is more clearly shown in Figure 2, the entry gates 38 are associated with arms 44 which are journaled on the shaft 40 so as to be supported thereby but free to rotate relatively thereto. Each pair or arms 44 rotatably support, at their outer ends, a vertical roller 45, the upper rollers 45 being of greater length than the lower rollers 45. The rollers 45 are constructed of rubber or other suitable material adapted to provide a cushioned, rotating engagement with a drum such as that shown at B. A resilient operating connection is provided between the arms 44 and the gates 38, by means of bolts 50 each of which is rotatably fixed at one end, as at y51, to a pair of the arms 44 and at the other end extends slidably through a bracket 52. The outer end of each bolt is threaded to receive nuts 53, and an expansion spring 54 is provided to exert a resilient pressure on the arms 44, hence a resilient pressure of the rollers 45 on a drum such as shown at B.

At its forward end, or to the left of the locating station as viewed in Figures 1 and 2, a pair of exit gates 55 are provided, each of which is in the form of a pair of arms 56 fixed to a vertical shaft 57 which is journaled in the framework of the machine. Each gate 55 also comprises a vertical shaft 58 which is journaled in the outer ends of the arms S6, each of which is driven by a hydraulic, drum rotating motor 59. Fixed to each end of each shaft 58 is a frictional driving roller 60. The driving rollers 60 are similar in structure and size to the rollers 45.

Referring now to Figures 2 and l0, a mechanism is there illustrated for operating the gates 3S and 55. For the purpose of operatinfr the entry gates 38 a hydraulic cylinder 61 is provided which is fixed to the framework of the machine and has a rod 61a rotatably connected at 6111 to links 62 which are rotatably connected to levers 63 which are fixed to the vertical shafts 40 to rotate the same in clockwise or counterclockwise direction according to the direction of movement of the rod 61a. A similar operating means is provided for the exit gates 55, comprising a hydraulic cylinder 64 fixed to the framework of the machine and having a rod 65.

The rod 65 is rotatably connected at 66 to links 6'7 which are rotatably connected to levers 68 fixed to the shafts 58. The rods 61a and 65 are slidably supported by bushings 69 carried by the framework of the machine.

Referring now to Figure 2, and to Figures 5 to 9, inclusive, a bung locating and drum shifting mechanism is there illustrated which is generally designated as and is referred to hereinafter as the locating mechgenerally similar to the gravity 6 anism. The locating mechanism is slidably supported on horizontal, longitudinal, parallel rods S1 by a slide or carriage 82. The carriage 82 comprises sleeves 83 which are slidable on the rods 81 and a cross plate 84 connecting the sleeves on opposite sides. The carriage 32 is actuated by means of a hydraulic cylinder 85 (see Figures l and 5) having a rod 86 which is rotatably connected at 87 to a bracket 83 fixed to the carriage 32.

The locating mechanism 80 comprises a rectangular frame which is pivotally supported on a shaft 96 carried by brackets 97. A spring 98 is fixed at one end to the cross plate S4 of carriage 82 and at its other end to a cross piece 99 carried by the frame 95. The spring 98 serves to counterbalance the weight of the frame and its attachments. At the forward end of the frame 95, i. e., to the left as viewed in Figure 5, a spring 100 is provided which is fixed to pins 101 and which has a purpose explained hereinafter. The spring 100 is most clearly shown in Figure l.

A roller 102 is provided which is journaled in the outer end of the frame 95 in such position as to rest and roll on the rim or chime 103 of a drum. In such position as to register with the bung hole 13 and its rim 13a of the drum, there is also provided an arm 104 (which is shown in plan view in Figure 1), one end of which (the right-hand end as viewed in Figures 6 and 7), is fixed to a shaft 105 which is rotatable in brackets 106 carried by the frame 95. Fixed to the left-hand end of the arm 104 as viewed in Figure 6 is a bung locating finger 107 which is intended to drop into the bung hole 13 as illustrated in Figures 6 and 7. Fixed to the other end of the arm 104 is a stop member 103. The shaft 105 also carries a cam 109 having a llow dwell 110 and a high dwell 112. The cam 109 is intended to operate a valve 319 which is described hereinafter in connection with the control system for the machine. Means is provided for positively rotating the shaft 105 in connection with the control elements of the machine, such means comprising a finger which is fixed to the shaft 105 and is engageable with a finger 121 on a bell crank lever 122 which is journaled on the shaft 96. At its rearward or right-hand end, the bell crank lever 122 is pivotally connected by a slot 123 and pin 123:1 to the rod 124 of an air cylinder 125.

The operation of the machine as thus far described, and without reference to the control system for timing the various operations, is as follows:

Referring first to Figure l, a drum B is assumed to be in the position shown at the bung locating station 12 but with its bung hole 13 at a random location. It will be apparent, of course, that as drums are fed to the locating station 12, their bung holes will be located at random at any point on a 360 arc. One purpose of the bung locating mechanism 80 is to rotate each drum until its bung hole 13 is at a predetermined position. The gates 38 and 55 are assumed to be closed and a drum A to be awaiting its turn adjacent the locating station. Also an oriented drum C (i. e., a drum having its bung hole in the proper position) is assumed to be located at the filling station 14 being filled with liquid. As soon as the gates 3S and 55 are closed, the 4driving rollers 60 (see Figure 2) are in firm Contact with the forward sides of the drum on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the machine. The rearward rollers 4S are pressed resiliently against the rearward sides of the drum by the expansion springs 54. There is an important advantage in this resilient Contact between the rearward rollers 45 and the drum, as follows:

To provide a rapid, dependable friction drive for the drums, it is important that the friction rollers 45 and 60 be in firm, intimate contact with the sides of the drum. However, drums vary somewhat in diameter, and a damaged drum may have an irregular surface. Accordingly, it is disadvantageous to have the rollers 45 and 60 spaced a predetermined distance apart. lf they 

